Hoops Habit
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Why Isaiah Thomas should start over Russell Westbrook for the Lakers

By Zamir Bueno

NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 22: Isaiah Thomas #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers, Isaiah Thomas, Russell Westbrook
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 06: Russell Westbrook #0 and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers warm up on the court before the NBA preseason game against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center on October 06, 2021 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Russell Westbrook and LeBron James don’t fit together

After last season, the team acquired Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards. The thought behind acquiring Westbrook was to give the team an extra ball handler. However, the organization didn’t consider the ramifications that would come along with making that move.

Westbrook is a player who needs to be close to the basket to be successful. Before this season, he shot over 60 percent in the restricted area on nearly eight shots per game.

He averaged more than nine points per game in the restricted area – 35 percent of his total scoring output. However, Westbrook is also a player who struggles off the ball, shooting 30.6 percent from behind the arc on 3.7 attempts per game.

Westbrook’s skillset created an issue for the team, as they typically like to have multiple players standing behind the arc when they are running post-ups and pick and rolls. For example, Marc Gasol and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope took more than 50 percent of their shots from behind the arc last season, averaging 2.3 and 4.4 per game respectively.

Therefore, opponents have been less likely to pay attention to him when they put Westbrook off the ball due to his three-point shooting struggles.

95 percent of Russell Westbrook’s three-point attempts this season have been uncontested, averaging 3.8 open threes per game. Westbrook’s shooting issues have contributed to James spending more time off the ball.

James is attempting a career-high 40.2 percent of his shots from behind the arc averaging 7.8 per game in 18 appearances. James accounts for 23 percent of the team’s three-point attempts.

Unfortunately, James has been a below-average performer from behind the arc throughout his career. Before this session, James shot 34.5 percent on 4.4 attempts per game. James has slightly improved in the area shooting 35.7 percent on 7.8 shots. James would be significantly more effective as a ball handler.

He has averaged 6.1 pick and roll possessions since 2015, shooting 46.5 percent on 4.6 attempts per game. James averages 5.9 points per game, 22.5 percent of the scoring output.

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